RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement: a single document that pairs two related but distinct safety documents into one package. [1] [2] The risk assessment half identifies the hazards of a task, decides who might be harmed and how seriously, and sets the control measures needed to eliminate or reduce each risk. [2] [3] The method statement half then describes the safe, step-by-step method for carrying out the same task once those controls are in place. [1] [4] The two are bundled together because they answer different halves of the same question: the risk assessment establishes what could go wrong and how the risk is controlled, and the method statement explains how the job is actually done safely with those controls in place. [1] [4] RAMS are predominantly used in the construction industry, where principal contractors and clients commonly request them before granting site access, and they are most often required for higher-risk activities such as working at height, hot works, confined-space entry, lifting operations, and demolition. [2] [4] The underlying risk assessment is a legal duty for employers in the UK under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, while the method statement is typically a contractual or site requirement, so combining them avoids duplicating the same task analysis twice. [3] [4]
Key characteristics
- A combined package: the risk assessment and the method statement bundled into one document rather than maintained separately. [1] [2]
- The risk assessment half identifies hazards, who might be harmed, and the control measures to reduce each risk. [2] [3]
- The method statement half sets out the safe step-by-step method once those controls are in place. [1] [4]
- Most common in UK and Ireland construction, and usually required for higher-risk work such as working at height, hot works, or confined-space entry. [2] [4]
- Developed by a competent responsible person on the employer's or contractor's behalf, with input from supervisors and experienced workers. [1] [4]
- A living document: it must be reviewed, updated, and re-signed when site conditions or the method change. [1]
Example
RAMS for a roof repair on a live site
A roofing subcontractor is brought onto a construction site to replace damaged slates. Before access is granted, the principal contractor asks for RAMS for the task. [2] The responsible person at the subcontractor writes the risk assessment first: the main hazards are falls from height, falling materials, and fragile roof sections; those at risk are the roofers and anyone below; the controls are edge protection, a scaffold tower, exclusion zones, and harness use. [2] [3] The method statement then describes the safe sequence with those controls in place: erect the scaffold, install edge protection, set the exclusion zone, remove and lower the damaged slates, fit replacements, then strike the equipment in reverse order. [1] [4] Because both halves live in one RAMS document, the site team can see the hazards and the safe method together, and the briefing and sign-off are recorded before work starts. [1]
Comparison
Risk assessment vs method statement
| Aspect | Risk assessment | Method statement |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | What could cause harm and how is the risk controlled | How the task is actually done safely, step by step |
| Content | Hazards, who is at risk, likelihood and severity, control measures | An ordered safe method using the agreed controls |
| Order | Done first | Built on the risk assessment afterwards |
| Status | Legal duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 | Usually a contractual or site requirement |
| Focus | Analysis of risk | Execution of the work |
How SOPX handles this
RAMS only protect people if the safe method actually reaches the crew and is followed at the site. SOPX is built for that last step, supporting construction teams who document and run safety procedures on site. A supervisor records the task on a phone or imports a PDF, and the AI structures it into a clear step-by-step SOP in under 10 minutes, translates it into 50+ languages for mixed crews, and shares it by QR code at the workface. Every change is versioned, and Run mode captures per-step sign-off as proof the safe method was followed. SOPX does not replace your risk assessment or approve RAMS, but it turns the method statement half into a living, followable on-site procedure.
Related use case: Health & Safety →Frequently asked questions
What does RAMS stand for?
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement?
When are RAMS required?
Who writes and approves RAMS?
Is a RAMS document a legal requirement?
Sources
Statements above draw on the references below. Numbers in the text link to the matching entry.
- [1]Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) Template and GuidanceHealth and Safety Authority (HSA Ireland) · Accessed 2026-06-21
- [2]What Are RAMS Documents in Health and Safety?CHAS · Accessed 2026-06-21
- [3]Managing risks and risk assessment at workHealth and Safety Executive (HSE UK) · Accessed 2026-06-21
- [4]What Is a RAMS Document? Risk Assessment and Method StatementHammerTech · Accessed 2026-06-21